Town of Niagara to take lead on expansion of outlet mall

The Town of Niagara's town board will meet later this month to begin reviewing the proposed expansion of Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls.

The board will declare "lead agency" status at its April 30 meeting, according to the Niagara Gazette. That's the first step in the state-mandated environmental review process.

The proposed $71 million expansion would make Fashion Outlets the 20th-largest mall in the United States, according to executives with Macerich Real Estate Investment Trust, the parent company of Fashion Outlets.

The company is seeking $7.8 million in tax breaks from the Town of Niagara Industrial Development Agency.